WNBA New York Liberty

Big Second Half Lifts New York Liberty Past Phoenix 68-57

Published on June 11, 2015 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
New York Liberty News Release


The New York Liberty used another impressive second-half effort to pick up a 68-57 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

New York improves to 3-1 overall and a perfect 3-0 at The Garden, winning back-to-back games for the first time this year.

As she has done in all four games this season, All-Star Tina Charles led the Liberty offensively, putting up 19 points with 11 rebounds, and naturally she sparked what turned into a huge third-quarter for New York as it took complete control of the game after a low-scoring first half.

Charles hit the first two field goals of the second half, helping the Libs build a five-point lead while igniting a 10-2 spurt to open the period.

After scoring 25 points in the first half, New York put up 23 in the third quarter alone, and over the last two games the Liberty hold a 47-29 advantage over the opposition in the third.

Fewer than three minutes into the half, Brittany Boyd found Essence Carson for a long-jumper, giving the Liberty a double-digit lead, 25-35, for the first time. It was one of Boyd's three dimes, while Carson scored in double figures for a second-straight game, finishing with 10 points while knocking down a pair of 3-pointers.

The Liberty lead never dipped down to a single possession the rest of the way, although Phoenix was able to pull within four early in the fourth quarter, only to see New York answer with an 8-1 run, capped off by a long Charles jumper.

Phoenix did make a late push, trimming its deficit down to 63-57 with 1:23 remaining, but it was Swin Cash with the dagger, as she calmly drained a corner trey with 40 ticks left on the clock, effectively icing the game.

New York was dominant on the glass and in the paint, outrebounding Phoenix 35-23 while outscoring the Mercury 32-22 on the interior. Rookie Kiah Stokes joined Charles with 11 boards, the first double-digit rebound game of her career, adding six points and a pair of blocks.

DeWanna Bonner led Phoenix with 22 points and six rebounds, but she was just 6-fo-18 from the field.

New York continues its four-game home stand on Sunday, June 14, when it hosts the Washington Mystics at Madison Square Garden. It will be Dads and Daughters Day at The Garden with tip off scheduled for 6 p.m.

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Postgame Notes

Phoenix scored its first basket 4:36 into the game. The Mercury missed their first eight field goals.

New York opened the third quarter on a 10-2 run to take a double-digit lead (35-25) for the first time.

New York's first win over Phoenix since the 2012 season.

The Liberty are 3-1 for the first time since 2007.

Charles has led New York in scoring in all four games and is averaging 18.8 points per game in 2015.

The Liberty outscored Phoenix 23-16 in the third quarter; over the last two games New York is outscoring 47-29 in the third.

After scoring the first basket of the game, New York led for all but 51 seconds over the remainder of the game and the Liberty never trailed.

New York outrebounded Phoenix 35-23 with Charles and Stokes both grabbing a game-high 11 boards.

Phoenix shot just 29.2 percent (19-for-65) from the field and New York is holding opponents to 34.8 percent from the field this year.

New York Liberty Quotes

Head Coach Bill Laimbeer

On the Liberty's rebounding advantage tonight

"Well we knew going in that we had a size advantage. We talked about that all day yesterday and we talked about it all day today. We knew that we could go in there and hammer the glass. It wasn't happening for us in the first half but in the second half it did. They picked up their pace of play they picked up their intensity level in the second half and got it done."

On the teams defense

"Our defense is pretty solid. I'm sure with this game here our first goal percentage will be tops in the league. We were (number) three going in and this is going to boost it even lower than that. Our defense is good."

On tonight's game

"Offense wise we weren't mentally sharp in the first half; and it showed dramatically. So many balls we had on our fingertips that got away. So many loose balls, so many easy little lay ups or little shots that we missed that we normally makes. We weren't pushing the ball with the pace necessary that I think we wanted to. We moved the ball up but then we backed off and started the shot clock with 12 or 14 seconds so we put a play in. That's not how we want to play. I made it very clear to them half time that that was unacceptable."

On the what changed in the second half

"I challenged them at halftime with 'Who are you?' with a big question mark. 'Are you going to be last year's team?' when we would have easily lost this game. Anyone who watched us last year this would have been an L (loss) for the New York Liberty. They stood up tonight and said no that's not what we are. We're this year's New York Liberty and they take great pride in who they are and their basketball and they got it done in the second half. Did we play our best basketball? No, but this year we got a win."

Tina Charles

On the win tonight

"It was an ugly game, but I'm glad we got the win. Things weren't going our way, but we just kept playing and that's what it's all about. You're going to have games where we have turnovers and we are not executing the way we should, but we just have to play through it, and I'm just glad we got the win."

Kiah Stokes

On her performance tonight

"I'm just trying to do my part. I like to rebound and block some shots and give the team what they want from me and what they need from me. "

On the rest of the season

"I think we have a lot of work to do but I think we have a really good group here. Obviously we are not perfect, but I think we can be really good."

Phoenix Mercury Quotes

Head Coach Sandy Brondello

On being shorthanded [without Brittney Griner] and what they need from [DeWanna] Bonner and [Candice] Dupree in Griner's absence

"They are the leaders of this team and they are great players in their own right. We are down in the post right now so they have to pick up a bit of the slack but they are capable of doing it."

On defending the New York Liberty

"Definitely. Our goal coming in was to congest against Tina (Charles) and not give them anything open but we broke down a few times and gave them open shots. If you've got Tina scoring and others scoring that's going to be difficult to defend. We've got to learn from this and make sure we get better the next game."

On New York Liberty rookies' performance

"They are great rookies. We would have taken Stokes (Kiah) too if she was available lower in the round. Boyd (Brittany) makes the game up-tempo for them and Stokes does all of the little things...she is the glue that every team needs."

Leilani Mitchell

On being back in New York and The Garden

"It was good to be back. I wish I could've played a little bit better. It's nice to be back after playing in New York for six seasons. It's a great atmosphere."

Candice Dupree

On tonight's defense

"Defensively I thought we did a really great job especially in the first half. The second half we let up a little bit"

On tonight's offense

"On offense we just need play a little bit more as a team. We're a little bit too stagnant and need a faster pace but we'll be alright"

DeWanna Bonner

On defending their championship

"We're going to play the same against everyone, every game. We're the team to beat, that's a motivation within itsself"

Check out the New York Liberty Statistics

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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